Have you recently suffered trauma?
Perhaps you experienced the physical trauma of a car accident or an illness. Or maybe it was more emotional in nature. Whatever the case, trauma becomes imprinted both on the mind and body.
It causes the senses to go into overdrive and can leave you feeling hopelessly stuck in the memory of the trauma. This is what makes recovering from trauma so difficult.
But one of the best things you can do is exercise.
Recovering from Trauma with Exercise
To stay balanced, it is essential that the body and mind are in communication. But after a trauma, communication is interrupted and we hold the effects of that trauma in our bodies.
Without reopening those lines of communication, the experience can get stuck and create myriad problems. Exercise is one of the best ways to open those lines.
Plus, it helps you heal from trauma by doing the following:
1. Restoring the Nervous System
After trauma, it’s difficult to feel resilient. Your nervous system has been knocked out of balance and you can become easily triggered or overwhelmed.
Having a regular weekly workout schedule allows you to see the progress you’re making. Activities that were once “too much” become something you can handle.
2. Releasing Endorphins/Burns Adrenaline
Even as you start to recover from the actual traumatic event, it’s not unusual to continue to experience a heightened sensory state. And this means an overproduction of adrenaline. Too much adrenaline leaves you feeling anxious, irritable, and restless.
When you move your body through exercise, it burns that adrenaline. As an added bonus, exercise also releases endorphins – the “feel good” hormones. Post-workout, you’ll find some balance, clarity, and relaxation.
3. Taking Your Mind off Tragedy
It’s all too simple for the traumatic event to replay in your mind on what seems an endless loop. And you may be frustrated because you’re not finding relief fast enough.
Aside from the abovementioned burning off of adrenaline and releasing endorphins, the sheer act of exercising serves as a distraction. Especially if you practice mindfulness. Different types of yoga, for instance, help you to stretch and focus on your breath to bring peace of mind.
4. Creating New Blood Vessels in the Brain
Regular exercise helps with increased blood flow. It does this by stimulating the growth and diameter of blood vessels throughout the body and in the brain.
These new vessels support improvement in the brain to boost both physical and cognitive functioning. You may even feel ready to take on big changes like going back to school. (In fact, why not can check out this link about scholarships for those who have survived trauma?)
5. Kicking up Neuroplasticity
Along with creating new blood vessels, cardiovascular exercise triggers biochemical changes in the brain. It aids in the development and growth of synaptic connections and new neuronal networks.
In other words, it helps get the brain back to firing correctly. Great options for cardio include running, swimming, strength training, and aerobics.
You Can Heal
Recovering from trauma is completely do-able. The more you’re aware of the interaction between your mind and body through exercise, the more healing you will experience.
You’ve got this.
And for more inspirational articles on dealing with life’s challenges, keep checking back with us!
